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M.'o. HBNLEY su J. P. PULGHAM.

METER.`

No. 527,979. Patented Oct. 23,1894.

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UNifrnnS'rA'rns PATENT OFFICE.

MIcAJAH c. HENLEY AND JESSE P. FULGHAM, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA;

sAID FULGHLAM AssIeNoR To EMMA R. FULGHAM, or sAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,979, dated October 23, 1894. Application filed March 9, 1894. Serial No. 502,991. (No model.)

To all whom/jt may concern:

Beit known that we, MIOAJAH (l HENLEY and JESSE P. FULGHAM, citizens of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meters, of which the following is a specification. Our invention relates to meters, and has reference more particularly to that class of meters in which the flow of fluid is controlled by means of a single rotary valve actuated by a pair of diaphragms. This valve is so arranged relatively to the passages opening into the diaphragm casings or chambers as to i keep all of the said passages in action at all times, and as there are fourof these pas` sages,two for each diaphragm chamber,- the iiow of the fluid into and out of each chamber will be practically continuous, although the direction of flow will be reversed periodically, i

An important feature of the present construction resides in the forming the whole or r a portion o'fone of the side walls of the diaphragm-chamber, of a smaller diaphragm and connecting this flexible wall with the diaphragm which divides the measuring chamber into two compartments, thereby enabling us to dispense with packing glands or stuffing boxes to receive and support the main diaphragm stems, to lessen the cost of manufacture,and to render easier the operation of the meter. r

In the drawingsf-Figurel is avertical longitudinal sectional view through our meter; Fig. 2, a perspective `sectional view ofthe Valve seat with its ducts; Fig. 3, a perspective View of the valve and its constructions; Fig. et, a plan View, partly in section,`of the valve seat; Fig. 5, a horizontal sectional view on the line of Fig. 4; and Figs. 6, 7, S and 9, diagrammatic views, showing the parts in different positions.

A indicates a hollow frame of box-like casing open on all sides, and to the lower side of which is'secured the block or casting B containing the valve seat, the central inlet a, the passages b, c, d ande through which the fluid flows to and from the diaphragm chambers C and-D, and the ports f, g, h and t', as shown.

` It will be noticed upon reference to Figs. 2,

4 and 5 .that the passage c entends down below and under'the passage b.

While the box A and the casting4 B are preferably made separate from each other, this is not essential. They form the shell or casing of the machine, and may be constructed of more than two parts if found advisable.

To two of the sides of the box A are secured the diaphragm chambers C and D which are, however, open on that side or face neXt to the box to which they are secured. Mounted within these chambers are the diaphragms E and F which will be held at their edges by the two parts of the casing, as usual, and thus divide the chambers, each 'into two compartments G G and H LH', as shown in Fig.'1. While, as before stated, the chambers proper are left open at one side, these openings are closed by meansiof smaller diaphragms I and J, Figs. l and 6 to 9, which thereby form respectively one wall of the compartments G H. Diaphragms E and F comprise, each, a flexible disk j of rubber, leather, or other suitable material, which is embraced between disks of light sheet metal, as shown in Fig. l. A stem Z passes centrally` through each of the diaphragms thus made up, and is supported at its outer end in a lateral axial extension m of the diaphragm chamber. The smaller diaphragms I and J are embracedbetween .two blocks n and o secured upon the stem Z,

the opposing faces of the blocks being rounded or curved, as shown in Figs. l and 3, to. prevent injury t-oV thediaphragm. Stem l is threaded toreceive the threaded block n, and

a n-ut p between which` the two diaphragms` and the intervening spacing block o are clamped, and by which the parts are held in their proper relative positions;

K, Figs. l and 3, indicates an open frame or casting which fits within the box or frame A, and is provided` at its upper and lower ends with bearings for the upright shaft vL'; and is further provided with perforated arms q q to receive and to guide and sustain. rods r fr projecting from the blocks Shaft L is adapted to be connected, at its upper end, with a suitable registering mechanism, while its lower end is connectedwith the valve M having the closed port s, the open port t, and the solid portions A A; the port roo s always acting as an inlet andthe port t always acting as an outlet.

It will be noticed upon reference to Figs. 1 and 7 that the frame K sets loosely upon the casting B, and may be readily removed when it is desired to disconnect the shaft.

The shaft L, Figs. 1 and 3, is provided with two cranks or cranked portions n and w at an angle of ninety degrees to each other, which are connected, respectively, by rods or pitmen N and O with the diaphragm blocks n, whereby the movement of the diaphragms E, F, will cause a rotary motion of the shaft and the valve attached thereto.

In the inner wall of diaphragm chamber C is an opening x which connects the chamber G with the passage ZJ; while in thev corresponding wall of chamber D is a similar opening (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) which connects the chamber H with the passage e.

The chamber G is connected with the passage d by a duct y, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, while the chamber I-l' is connected with the passage c, by means of a similar duct a'.

Passages 19,0, d and e open, respectively, at their inner ends into the ports g, h,f and f, which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 to 9, are arranged around the central inlet or supply a and adapted to be covered and uncovered successively, in pairs by the valve M.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the gas will escape from compartment H through passage c and port h, the ports g and t' being meanwhile covered by the solid parts A of the valve and thereby preventing any escape of gas from the compartments G and G.` It will also be noted that the hollow closed port s of the valve covers the inlet a and the port f, thereby admitting gas under full head to go through passage e into the compartment H. As the diaphragm F is moved outward by the full pressure of the gas entering the compartment H, the shaft Lis rotated and the valve turned slowly to the right, thus gradually uncovering the port t' .and also gradually connecting the port` g with the supply port a. It will be noted, however, that the hollow valve port s is elongated so that even after the port g is partially open (or brought into connection with the said valve port s) the port f will remain wide open and in communication with the valve port s. By this means we insure the complete filling of the compartment H before the pressure of the' gas in compartment G can interfere to reverse the motion or direction of movement of thediaphragm F.

ment, and, :acting through the diaphragm F, pitman N,- and crank v, turns the shaft and the valve to the position shown in Fig. 7. W hen in the latter position gas enters through ports a g andpassage b into compartment G, and escapes from compartment G through passage d and port 'L'. The lling of compartment G gives to the shaft L and valve M another The full pressure of gas en-teringcompartment Hfills said compart` quarter revolution, and brings the latter to the position shown in Fig. 8, where it will be seen that gas is escaping from compartment H through passage e and port f, and entering compartment H through ports a, h and passage c. A further rotation of shaft L and valve M, caused by the inward movement of diaphragm F, brings the valve to the position shown in Fig. 9, with the gas escaping from compartment G through passage b and port g, and entering compartment G through ports a i and passage d.

- It is to be understood ,that the various parts do not rest in the positions in which they are represented in Figs. 6 to 9, such figures being merely intended toillustrate the positions the parts occupy relatively to each other at certain points in the rotation of the shaft. It will be noticed upon reference to all these figures there is an instant when only one port is illing and one emptying; but this occurs only for an instant, for as the valve ro tates continuously an additional port begins to fill and an additional port begins to empty as soon as the valve moves to such a position that its hollow port s covers two of the ports f, g, 7L, t'. As a matter of fact, therefore, there are two ports emptying and two ports filling, almost constantly. For example, when the valve moves to a position between the two positions represented in Figs. 6 and 7, the hollow port of the valve will connect the two portsfg with the supply ce, while the ports h and lwill be uncovered, thus allowing gas to enter the compartments G H andescape from the compartments G H. As the valve continues to rotate, and before it reaches the-position shown in Fig. 7, the ports h andf will begin to be closed, the parts being so proportioned that by the time they reach the position shown in Fig. 7, the compartment H will be completely filled, the compartment H completely emptied, thecompartment G half filled, and the compartment G half emptied.

1f desired, the port or passage a may be used as the outlet instead of the inlet, in which case the positions of the valve would be 4changed slightly and the gas would enter the measuring compartments through the open :port t of the valve and pass out through .the closed hollow port s.

The measuring chambers having onewall formed by the small diaphragms as described :may obviously be used in connection vwith other forms of valves and valveoperating mechanism.

`Having thus described our invention, what we claim is= 1. In a meter, the combination witha shell or casing comprising two diaphragm chambers; a diaphragm in each chamberdividing the latter into two compartments-each; the supply a; the fourinlet and outlet passages b, c, d, e, communicating vwith said compartments; a valve M provided with open outlet port t, elongated covered inlet port s, and

IOO

solid portions A 5 and connections between LaniA the diaphragms and valve-whereby the complete lling of one compartment is effected before the pressure in the opposite compartment can interfere to reverse the motion of the diaphragm in the first-mentioned compartment. l

2; In a meter, the combination with the hollow box A having openings in two of its sides; of the diaphragm chambers C D each having an opening in one side and applied to the open sides of the boX; the diaphragms E F mounted in the chambers C D; diaphragmsI and J applied to the openings in the sides of the chambers and connected with the diaphragms E and F; supply a; suitable passages h, c, d, e; a valve M controlling vthe owt and from the compartments; and connections between the diaphragme I and J, and the valve.

3. In a meter, a measuring chamber having one wall formed by a .flexible diaphragm; in combination with a second diaphragm dividing the chamberinto two compartments; and a connection between the two diaphragms.

4. In a meter, two measuring chambers each having one wall formed by a flexible diaphragm; in combination with a second set f diaphragms dividing each chamberinto two compartments; a connection between the diaphragms of cach chamber; a valve controlling the ow of gas to and from the separate compartments; a shaft for actuating the valve; and connections between the opposing diaphragms and the shaft. i

5. In a meter, the combination with the chamber C having a flexible diaphragm I;

and O connecting the" blocks with the shaft;

and a shell or casing provided with suitable ports and passages.

In witness whereof we hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses..

MlCAJAI-I C. HENLEY. JESSE I). FULGHAM.V Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. BELL, FRANK. H. WILLIAMS. 

